Fastener for milk-can tops



Sept. 24,1929. H. B. PORTER FASTENER FOR MILK CAN TOPS Filed March 28, 1928 i IIIIIIIIIIIIlIlIIII/II/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ El "new oz HELP urcer I GHOMWA Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUGH-I BARR PORTER, or ENID, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-THIRD TO K. NEED HAM, or PONCA CITY, OKLAHOMA FASTENER FOR MILK-CAN trors Application filed March 28,

The present invention is directed to improvements in fasteners for milk can tops.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character so constructed that it can be conveniently applied to can tops already in use, and when in place thereon will effectively lock the top against accidental removal, but at the same time can be easily and quickly manipulated to permit removal of the top.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastener constructed and arranged in such manner that the cans can be set one upon the other without the danger of injuring the fastener.

Another object of the invention 1s to provide a fastener of this character so constructed that the shipping tag can be conveniently attached without the aid of wire or other securing devices.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a fastener which can be conveniently attached to the handle carried bythe tops and is of such construction that when in place thereon the fastener will not interfere with the handle to prevent the samefrom being conveniently grasped to remove the top from the milk can.

While the drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet speeific needs and requirements the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawing hereto attached, in which,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a can top showing the fastener in place thereon.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawing by like reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates a portion of a' 1928. Serial No. 265,425.

conventional form of milk can having the neck 2 and usual flared rim 3, the rim in this instance being provided with diametrically opposed openings 4, the purpose of which will be later explained.

The top 5 is of conventional form, and is adapted to conform to the shape of the neck 2 and flared rim 3, said top being provided with a transverse handle 6, said handle being openings 4 when the top is in its operative position.

. When the device is used in connection with handles of channel form a filler block 9 is pro vided and is fitted in the channel of the handle, said block having an opening 10 therein which is adapted to coincide with an opening 11 formed in the bottom of the handle 6, said block being further provided with a recess 12 upon its upper surface in which is fitted a nut 13, and engaged in the nut, openings 10 and 11, is a bolt 14', the lower end of whichextends below the handle and has engaged thereon a clamping nut 15. It will be observed that the upper portion of the bolt extends somewhat above the block 9. Upper and lower bars 16 and 17 are provided centrally with registering openings 18 and 19, respectively, and in which the upper extended end of the bolt 14 is pivotally engaged in order that the bars may be permitted to turn. I

Latch rods 20 and 21 are employed and are pivotally connected between the bars 16 and 17 by rivets 22 and 23, the bar 21 being somewhat longer than the bar 20in order that the inner end thereof will lie adjacent the bolt 14, the purpose of which will appear later.

Having its outer end secured by the rivets 22 is aresilient arm 24 and to the inner end of which is riveted a catch 25. said catch including sides 26 which are adapted to span latch rods 20 and 21 are in their operative positions, and at which time the outer ends thereof are engaged in the registered openings 4 and 8, thus interlocking the top with the can.

Since the sides 26 of the catch embrace the sides of the bars 16 and 17 and sides of the rod 21 it will be obvious that the device will be held in its locked position, but when it is desired to remove the top it is only necessary to lift the catch 25 in order that the parts can assume the position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and at which time the latch rods are withdrawn from the open-.

ings 4 and 8, thus permitting the top to be removed from the can.

By providing the nut 12 it will be obvious that the bolt 14 can be firmly secured to the handle and block with the aid .of the nut 15, and if desired, the lower end of the bolt can be upset to prevent any possibility of the nut 15 working loose.

As shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, the shipping tag 27 may be conveniently attached to the can by passing one of the latch rods through the tag opening 28, thus eliminating the necessity of using strings or wires for fastening the shipping tag to the can, as is now customary.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape and proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from thespirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A milk can top having a handle, bars pivotally connected with the handle, latch rods having their inner ends pivotally connected with the bars, and their outer ends adapted to operate to hold the tops locked with a can, a resilient arm carried by the bars and having a catch thereon for engaging one of the latch rods to hold the same in its of one of the latch rods to hold the same in its locked position.

3. Aniilk can top having a channeled handle, a block mounted in the channel of the handle, a bolt secured to the block and HUGH BARR PORTER. [Ls] 

